Carton-forming machine



Filed Oct. 4, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS m 162% ML Am 1?- ATTMZNE S 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 11, 948- J. J. QUIGLEY EI'AL CARTON-FORMING MACHINE Filed 001;. 4, 1946 May 11, 1948. J. J. QUIGLEY ETAL 2,441,372

CARTON-FORMING MACHINE Fiied Oct. 4, 1946 {sheets-sheet 5 h I f V Q M i p 7%, IIM h w uu .w w Wax N u my mars.

y 1948- J. J. QUIGLEY ETAL.

CARTON-FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1946 e Sheets-Slaget 4 I I M M N mm N/V v V v KR ..S Wu MMJXi/ l----I 0, \l- 1| M A TORNEYS May 1 1, 1948. UI-GLEY TA 2,441,372

CARTON-FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I INVENTORS M J W M1 Pm- RL- V W Y- M ,4 Tram/E vs Patented May 11, 1948 PATENT OFFICE Y CARTON-FORMING MACHINE John J. Quigley, Jersey City, and Philip Ricklefs,

Bogota, N. J., assignors to Block Drug Company, Inc., Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 4, 1946, Serial No. 701,282

12 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to a new and improved machine and method for setting-up flat, knockeddown cartons from their flat, knocked-down form to their open assembled form, with one end of the assembled carton open, so that the respective article can be inserted in the set-up carton.

The main object of our present invention is the setting up of cartons which are made, packed and shipped in fiat,'knocked-down form. In the present illustration of our invention, the carton has a body which consists of four rectangular walls of identical shape and dimensions. These walls are classified as a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls. Each side wall is provided at its respective ends with respective side-wall flaps. At one end of said body, the front wall hasa closurefiap whichis provided with an end locking flap. At the other end of said body, the rear wall is also provided with a closure flap which has a respective end locking flap. The cartons are made of cardboard or other suitable material, whose walls and flaps are hingedly connected to each other in the usual manner.

According to our invention, I provide an endless conveyor chain which has respective top and bottom horizontal runs. A series of spaced pockets are connected to said conveyor chain, and these pockets pass successively in the top run of the conveyor chain below a chute, from which the fiat cartons are transferred by a'pusher one by one. Each transferred flat carton falls into a respective pocket in inclined position, with the anterior edge of each flat carton located below its posterior edge. The body of the carton is then opened until said body has the desired final rectangular cross-section,' The side-wall flaps at one end of the carton are then turned inwardly, and the respective closure flap at said end of the carton is then turned inwardlyinto closing position with its locking flap tucked inwardlyofthe respective longitudinal body wall. The side wall flaps at the other end of the carton are turned outwardly, thus ke'eping'said end open for the insertion of the filling.

Numerous additional objects and features of our invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and the appended drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof. I 1

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a machine according to our invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a part of said machine, the representation of its anterior end-portion being omitted. I

.Fig. 3 is an. enlarged detail topplan view of 5 Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the mechanism which performs the first operation in setting up the carton.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a detail side elevation which further illustrates said first operation in setting up the carton. I r

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation which shows the chute in which the fiat and unopened cartons are piled, and the mechanism for feeding said fiat cartons from said chute, one by one.

Figs. 9-13 inclusive are sectional views on the lines 99, Ill-l0, H-ll, Il -J2 and |3I3 respectively of Fig. 3.

Fig. 14 is a side eleavtion of the side of the machine which is opposed to that which is illustrated in Fig. 5.

For convenience, the left end of the machine as it is shown in Fig. 1, where the chute l is located, is called the inlet end of the machine, and

the elevation taken at the bottom of Fig. 1 is called the front elevation of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the

fiat cartons used in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings are best shown at the left end of Figure 6. Each carton has a body C comprising four longitudinal walls, which, in this illustration of the invention, are of identical rectangular shape, Fig. 6 shows two of these longitudinal walls, at the left of said figure, and for convenience, the right longitudinal wall shown here is designated as the front wall of the body. The other, i, e. the left longitudinal body wall shown at the left end of Fig. 6, is one of two side walls. The front bodywall has a front closure flap 13, which has a locking flap 14. The side-wall which is exposed at the left of Fig. 6, has respective side-flaps l2 and, 15. The rear wall of the carton-body has a rear closure-flap 16, which has a locking-flap 11. The

side-wall, which is under the front wall at the left of Fig. 6, has a side-flap 18 which is shown in full lines in Fig. 6, and another side-flap 18a which is shown in broken lines in Fig. 6, and in full lines in Fig. 14. i

Figure 8 shows the flat cartons piled in chute l which is located at the inlet end of the machine. A reciprocating slide 50 is guided to slide to-andfro in guides 5| which are provided in the frame of the machine, and the flat cartons are pushed out of the chute, one by'one; by said reciprocatconnected by pivot pin 53 to a link M, which is c ,7

connected by pivot pin 54 to arm 55, and this arm 55 is connected by pivot pin 56- to the frame 7 of the machine. As shown in Fig. 8, one end of V V a biasing tension spring 63 is fixed to arm 55, while the other end of this tension spring is fixed to the frame of the machine. Arm 55 is thus biased by spring 63 to turn clockwise, and cause pusher slide 50 to move to the right, referringto Fig. 8, and push the bottom flat carton .out of.

chute I.

A cam-follower arm 56 is connected to arm 55 by pivot pin 58a. The posterior end of arm 58 is forked to provide legs Bf, between which the lateral cam-shaft 59 is located. Cam 60 is fixed to cam-shaft 59, The usual cam-roll 62 is turnably connected with cam-follower arm 58, and saidturnable cam-roll 62 abuts the periphery of cam 60. The pusher slide 50' will be given a complete reciprocation during each one-third revolution of cam 60.

Fig. 8 shows part of an endless conveyor chain 2, which is mounted on respective sprockets. This chain 2 has horizontal top and bottom runs. It is constantly actuated at constant speed. One of said sprockets is fixed to the lateral camshaft 59, which, during the operation of endless conveyor chain 2, operates cam 60. This cam cooperates with cam-roll 62, thus causing reciprocation of arms 58 and 55 and pusher slide 56. The broken-line position of arm 55 in Fig. 8 shows it at the beginning of a feeding stroke of shoe 50, while the full line position of arm 55- in Fig, 8 corresponds to the end of a feeding-stroke. The flat cartons are thus removed from the chute, one by one, and located in pockets of the conveyor chain 2', as will be explained in more detail further below.

A series of pockets 3, which are spaced equally from each other, are connected to the endless conveyor chain 2. As shown in Figures 6 and 8, each pocket 3 consists of a bottom wall, a left end-wall which is perpendicular to said. bottom Wall, and a right end-wall which is inclined to said bottom wall. Each inclined end-wall of each pocket 3 has a, notch or recess. 3a, which is shown in- Fig. 6. The pockets 3 have no side walls. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pockets 3 slide in the top run of the conveyor .chain 2, upon longitudinal and horizontal rails 64.

Each of the flat cartons removed from chute I, as described above, is. receivedby a pocket 3, and is initially located therein; in the inclined position shown in Figure 8, the ends of said flat. carton projecting equally in front and in rear of the pocket 3-, as shown, for example, in Figure 3 or 6 at the left. Whena flat carton is pushed to the right out of chute l, referring to Fig. 8, itis thuspushed between suitable longitudinal guides 98 and 9| respectively for alignment purposes. When the left end of said flat carton is pushed beyond chute l said.- fiat carton falls into a respective pocket 6, which. is then located in receiving position, so that each carton is held upwardlyinclinedfrom left to the right, with the right end of the carton projecting to the right'beyond the respective pocket 3 as shown in Fig. 8. Each a very slight extent.

carton thus falls vertically between the respec-- tive longitudinally guides, to be received accurately in a respective pocket 3.

The initial operation in opening the flat body C of the cartons deposited in pockets 3, takes place as follows:

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a lateral shaft 65 is turnably mounted in a, bearing 66, which is fixed to the frame of the machine. Said shaft 65 rotated, without being moved in a direction parallel to its axis. A disk 6'! is turnably mounted on the shaft 65, so that the shaft 65 and the dish 61 canturn-freely relative to each other. A series of radial fingers 6, of equal length, are fixed to the diskfi'f. The disk 6'! is slidable along the shaft 65 in a direction parallel to its axis to A compression spring 68 forces the disk 61 against a flange 69 which is integral with the shaft 6.5, thus frictionally coupling the disk 61 to the shaft 65. One end of spring- 58 abuts 'a nut 68a, which is fixed to shaft 65; 1

Asecond disk 1-6 is'fixed tothe shaft 65. This second disk 16'- 'is provided with pointed projections 5. Radial fingers 4 are also fixed to' said disk 1-6.

As shown in Fig. 7, the machine is provided with a fixed abutment l3g-below shaft 65, and, as shown in Fig. 1, this abutment I6 is longitudinally slotted under the shaft 65, inorder to permit the fin-- gers- 6' fixed to the disk 61, liopass through abutment l3. Abutment [a is alsoprovided with a notch 1| (See-Fig. 7

In Figs. 1 and 2 the longitudinal movement of pockets 3 i-s from the left" to right. Viewed from the-front ofthe machine; asin Fig, 2-, the shaft 65 is turned counterclockwise; This applies to Fig. 5 and Fig. 7-, in which the shaft 65 is turned counterclockwise, and; the Pockets 3- move from left toright, in unison with the; top run of the conveyor chain. 7

Uponmovement ofthepockets 3, the top edges of the flat carton-bodies C deposited in said pockets, contact slidably with the bottom face of abutment I'3, as shown in Figure, 7. The fingers or pins 4- of disk 16 are located above the flaps 18 (-see' Fig. 6) of the fiat cartons deposited in pockets 3. The shaft 65 and; the disk 10' fixed to the shaft, are rotated at sufficient angular velocity, 50- that the free ends of said pins 4 are moved at greater longitudinal. velocity than the chain 2., when the free ends. of said pins are close to the bottom portions. Hence each pin 4 will strike. a flap 1,8 and exertdownward and longitudinal; pressure toward the right on said flap 18,. thus partially opening, the flat body C, as shown at the left of Fig, 7. Although flap 18 is hingedly connected to therespective side-wall of body 6, said' hinge connection is sufiiciently stiff, so that the downward pressure. andv longitudinal pressure on. each flaplB, which is exerted by a pin 4. will turn the respective. side-wall of the carton body, which is connected to flap l8, relative to the opposite side wall of the carton body.

After thus. partially opening. the carton body, the. pi'n14. clears and passes longitudinally beyond the respective flap 1B, which then bends relative to its respective side-wall of the carton body, in order to permit the pin. 4 to move longitudinally beyond the respective pocket 3 and the respective carton. 7 7 Referring to- Fig. 5,. after the carton body has been partially opened in the above described manner by afingerl, thetop edge of the partially opened carton engages notch 1| provided in which is shown in Fig. 7 abuts one of the fingers I 6, which holds said body in open rectangular formation. That is, the radial distance fromthe axis of rotation of the shaft 65, to the tipof the finger 4, exceeds said radial distance to the tip of the finger 6. Therefore, while the finger 4 overruns the respective carton so as to partially open it as indicated in Fig. '7, the longitudinal movement of the opened carton is faster than the longitudinal movement of the tip of the finger 6. Therefore, the disk 6'! slips relative to the shaft 65, While the respective finger 6, keeps the carton body in open rectangular body formation.

While the respective finger 6 is thus holding a respective carton C in open formation, a respective pointed extension 5 of disk lfl inwardly bends one of the end flaps.

As mentioned above and shown inFig. 6, at the left hand thereof, the carton C is provided with respective end flaps 12 and 15 at one of its side walls. The wall which is below said side wall, in Fig. 6, has a closure flap 16, and the latter has an end flap 11. The other body wall which is shown in Fig. 6 and has been denoted above as the front wall of the body, has a closure flap [3, which has an end flap 14. The wall which is below said front wall has an end flap 1B. Said last mentioned wall has a companion flap 18a to flap 18, this being shown in broken line in Fig. 6. Each pin 4 strikes a respective fiap 18. .Each pointed extension 5 inwardly bends an end flap 15. I 1

The next steps in setting up the carton are brought about by guides l and I and finger 8 of disk 821. As shown in Fig. 1, the frame of the machine has a longitudinal guide 1 fixed thereto, and the front end portion of said guide I is laterally inclined. Said end portion of the guide 1 acts as a cam member, to inwardly bend the fiap I8, and to keep said flap 18 in inwardly bent position, overlying the flap 15. At the same time, the companion guide member 1' turns the flap I2 outwardly to the open position, while fiap 18a is bent to the open position by means of a respective finger 8, which is integral with disk 8a, which is fixed to a shaft 19. This shaft 19 turns reversely to shaft 65.

The next step isto bend the end flap ll until it abuts the closure flap 16. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, adjacent the closure flap 16, the guide 9 is associated with a tongue 9a, which is fixed to the frame F. The closure flap 16 is thus passed between the planar bottom portion of the guide 9 and the flap tongue 9a, while the concavo-convex end portion of the guide 9 bends the end flap 11 relative to the closure flap 16, until said end'fiap 11 overlies the tongue 9a, and is parallel to the closure flap 16. The respective carton then passes beyond the tongue 9a, between a pair of pressure rolls Ill (see Fig. 11), which press the end flap 11 against the closure flap I6. These pressure rolls are mounted upon suitable respective shafts which are provided with bearings in the'frame of the machine. When the end flap 1! passes beyond the pressure rolls l0, it springs into the position shown in Fig. 12, in which it is substantially perpendicular to the closure'flap-IG. .A;

'6 guide I I. (see Fig. 12) which is fixed to the frame of the machine, then gradually upwardly turns the closure flap 16.

:As shown in Figs. 3 and 13, a series of blades l2a'are fixed to a plate I2 connected to a shaft 80. This shaft is timed so that shortly before the insertion of flap 11 under the respective body wall,'.one of said blades [2a bends said flap 11 relative to its closure flap 16, thus inserting the fiap 11 into the final position shown in Fig. 13. Each blade 12a, therefore, acts as a guide for the insertion of a respective end flap 11. Each blade l2a also has a pusher 12b, which pushes the flap l6 tightly into closing position.

The main shaft 82 of the machine is driven by any suitable motor.

As shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 82 is geared to shaft 65 by means of gears 83 and 84. Shaft 82 is geared to shaft 19 by means of gears 85 and 86. The conveyor chain 2 is driven from the shaft 82 by any suitable drive.

'The pressure rolls are idler rolls. The shaft 80 is also driven from the main shaft 82 by any suitable drive.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited to the details shown in the drawings and described above, and may be carried out with various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanism of the kind described, a substantially vertical chute for piling flat, knocked-down cartons one above the other, means for removing said fiat cartons one by one from the bottom of the chute, an endless conveyor chain having substantially horizontal top and bottom runs, and being provided with spaced pockets connected to said conveyor chain, each of said pockets being adapted to receive one carton removed from the chute, revolving meansprovided with finger members, which, in cooperation with a longitudinally arranged abutment, are adapted to cause gradual opening and squaring of the cartons placed in the pockets, said re- Volving means being also provided with members adapted to inwardly bend a first end flap at one end of the carton, guide means adjacent said one end of the carton, for inwardly bending a second end fiap which in inwardly bent position overlies said first end flap, companion guide means at the other end of the carton for outwardly bending a first end flap at said other end, and a revolving means adapted to outwardly bend a second end flap at said other end of the carton, and cooperating longitudinally spaced guide means and revolving means acting on said first end of the carton and causing the closure fiap at said one end to turn inwardly into closing position-With its locking end flap tucked inwardly of a longitudinal body wall of the carton. I

2. In a mechanism of the kind described, a substantially vertical chute for piling fiat, knockeddown cartons one above the other, reciprocating means for removing said fiat cartons one by one from the bottom of the chute, an endless conweyor chain actuated at substantially constant speed, having substantially horizontal top and bottom runs and being provided with spaced pockets connected to said conveyor chain, said pockets having no side walls, each of said pockets consisting of a bottom wall, a first end wall which is substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall, and a second end wall which is inclined'to'said bottom wall and has a notch or recess, each pocket amma beingadapted toireceive one (flat carton removed from the chute in inclined position, theiends of said fiat carton projecting in front andin rear of the pocket, revolving means provided with finger members which in cooperation with a longitud'ina'lly arranged abutment are adapted to cause gradual opening and squaring of the car-tons placed in the pockets, said revolving means being also provided with members adapted to inwardly bend a first end flap at one end of the carton, guide meansadjacent-said one end of the carton for inwardly bending a second end fiap which in inwardlybent position overlies said'first end'fiap, companion guide means adjacent the other end of the cartons, for outwardly bending a first end flap and a revolving means adapted to outwardly bend a second end flap at said other end of the carton, and cooperating longitudinally spaced guide means and revolving means acting on said one end of the carton and causing the closure fiap at said one end of the carton to turn inwardly into closing position with its l'ocking end flap tucked inwardly of a longitudinal body wall of the carton.

3. In a mechanism of the kind described, a substantially vertical chute for piling fiat, knocked-down cartonsone above the other, reciprocating means for removing said fiat cartons one by one from the bottom of the chute, an endless conveyor chain actuated at substantially constant speed, having substantially horizontal top and bottom runs and being provided with spaced pocketsconnected to said conveyor chain, said pockets having no side walls, each of said pockets consisting of a bottom wall, a first end wallzwhich is substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall, and a second end wall which is inclined to said bottom wall and has a notch or recess, each pocket being adapted to receive-one fiat carton removed from the chute in inclined position, the ends of said flat carton projecting in front and in rear of the pocket, revolving means provided with finger members, which in cooperation with a longitudinally arranged abutment are adapted to cause gradual opening and squaring of the flat cartons placedin the pockets, said revolving means being also provided with members adapted to inwardly bend a first end fiapat one end of the carton, said revolving means comprising a first disc provided With'radial fingers adapted to strike a flap at said one end "of the flat carton placed in a pocket and thus cause partial opening of the flat carton body, said first'disc being also provided with pointed projections adapted to inwardly bend one end flap at saidon'e end of the carton, and a second disc provided'with radial fingers adapted to hold the squared carton in open rectangular formation, guidemeans adjacent said one end of the carton "for inwardlybending a second end fiap which in inwardly bent position overlies said first end flap, companion guide means adjacent the other end of the carton for outwardly bending a first end flap and a revolving means comprising a disc provided with projections adapted to outwardly 1 end a second end flap at said other end of the carton, and cooperating longitudinally spaced guide means and revolving means acting on said one end of the carton and causing the closure fiap at said one end of the carton to turninwardly into closing position with its locking end flap tucked inwardly of a longitudinal body wall of the oar-ton.

A. In a mechanism of the kind described, a substantially vertical chute for piling flat, knocked-down cartons one above :the other, vreoiprocatingmeansfior removing said flat cartons one .byzone "from the bottom :of the chute, an endless "conveyor chain actuated at substantially constant speed, having substantially horizontal top ..:and :bottom :runs and being provided with spacedzzpo'ckets connected to said conveyor chain, saidzpockets havi'ngrno' side walls, each of said pocketscconsisting of a bottomwall, a first end W8J1".Whi0h is substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall, :and a second end wall which is innlined to said bottom wall and has a notch or recess, =-each pocket being adapted to receive :one ilatcarton removed from the chute in inclined position, the ends of said flat carton projecting in front and in rear .of the pocket, revolving means provided with finger members, which in cooperation with a longitudinally arranged abutmerit are adapted to cause gradual opening and s uaring of the fiat cartons placed in the pockets, said revolving means being also provided with members causing inwardly bending of a first end flap :at one end of the carton, said revolving means comprising :a'first 'disc provided with radial fingers adapted to strike a fiap at said one end of the fiat carton placed in a pocket and thus cause partial opening of the'fia't carton body, said one disc being also provided with pointed projections adapted to inwardly bend one end fiaprat said :one :end'of the carton, and a second disc provided with radial fingers adapted to hold the squared carton in .open rectangular formation, :guide means adjacent said one end of the cartonlfor inwardly bending a second end flap which in inwardly bent position overlies said first rend flap, companion guide means adjacent the other endcof the carton for outwardly ,bendingi-a first end flap 'anda revolving means compri's'ingadisc provided with projections adapted to outwardly ben'd a second. end-flap at said other end of the carton and cooperating longitudinally spaced guide means andrevolving means acting on said one endoi the carton, said means comprising aifirst guidehaving a plan'ar bottom portionzand a concavo-convexzmarginal portion, said guide being associated with a tongue parallel ,w'iththe planar bottom portion of the guide, a pair :of 'pressure'rolls longitudinally spaced from said guide, 'a'se'condguide longitudinally spaced from :said pressure rolls, a revolving disc longitudinallyrspaced from said second guide and provided-with aiseriesof blades, said-first guide, said pressure rolls, iSaid second guide and said disc acting :insubsequent steps on said first end of the :carton and'causing the closure flap at said end of the carton to turninw'ardly into closing position with its locking end flap tucked inwardly rotalongitrrdinalbody wall of the carton.

5.IIn a mechanism of the kind described, a substantially vertical :chute for piling fiat, knockeddowmcartons one above the-other, reciprocating means for removing-said 'flat cartons one by one :from=the bottom of the chute, an endless conveyor rchain actuated at substantially constant speed, having substantially horizontal top and bottom runs and *being provided With spaced :pockets'connected to said conveyor chain, said pocketshaving'rrozsidewalls, each of said pockets consisting :of a bottom wall, a first end Wall which :is'subst'antiallyperpendicular to said bottom wall, z-andia second .end wI-all'which is inclined to said bottom "wall and has a notch or recess, each pocket zbeingadaptedtto :receive one flat carton removed from the chute fin inclined position, the ends of flat rcarton projecting in front and in rear of :the pocket, revolving means provided with finger members, which in cooperation with a lon itudinally arranged abutment are adapted to cause gradual opening and squaring of the fiat cartons placed in the pockets, said revolving means being also providediwith members causing inwardly bending of a first end flap at one end of the carton, said revolving means comprising a first disc provided with radial fingers adapted to strike a fiap at said one end of the fiat carton and thus cause partial opening of the fiat carton body, said one disc being also provided with pointed projections adapted to vinwardly bend one end flap at said one end of the carton, and a second disc provided with radial fingers adapted to hold the squared carton in open rectangular formation, guide means adjacent said one end of the carton for inwardly bending a second end flap which in inwardly bent position overlies said first end flap, companion guide means adjacent the other end of the carton for outwardly bending a first end flap and a revolving means comprising a, disc provided with projections adapted to outwardly bend a second end flap at said other end of the carton and cooperating longitudinally spaced guide means and revolving means acting on said one end of the carton, said guide means and revolving means comprising a first guide having a planar bottom portion and a concavo-convex marginal portion, said guide being associated with a tongue parallel with the planar bottom portion of the guide, the planar bottom portion of said first guide and the tongue associated therewith being adapted to receive and pass between them the closure fiap of the first end of the carton, while the concavoconvex marginal portion of said first guide is adapted to bend the respective end flap relative to said closure fiap, a pair of pressure rolls longitudinally spaced from said first guide, said pressure rolls being adapted to press said end flap against said closure flap, a second guide longitudinally spaced from said pressure rolls, said second guide being adapted to gradually upwardly turn said closure flap, a revolving disc longitudi-' nally spaced from said second guide and provided with a series of radially arranged blades which are adapted to bend said end flap relative to its closure flap and insert it into its final position in the carton.

6. In a mechanism of the kind described, a substantially vertical chute for piling fiat, knocked-down cartons one above the other, means for removing said fiat cartons one by one from the bottom of the chute, an endless conveyor chain having substantially horizontal top and bottom runs and being provided with spaced pockets connected to said conveyor chain, each pocket being adapted to receive one carton removed from the chute, means for opening and squaring the fiat cartons placed in said pockets, said means comprising a revolving disc provided with radially arranged fingers adapted to cause partial opening of the flat cartons in said pockets, and a longitudinally arranged abutment acting on the top edge of the cartons placed in the pockets.

'7. In a mechanism of the kind described, a substantially vertical chute for piling fiat, knockeddown cartons one above the other, means for removing said flat cartons one by one from thebot means for gradual opening and squaring of the fiat cartons placed in said pockets, said means comprising a first revolving disc provided with radially arranged fingers adapted to cause partial opening of the fiat cartons in said pockets by striking an end flap at one end of the carton, a longitudinally arranged abutment adapted to be engaged by a top edge of the carton placed in a pocket, and a second revolving disc provided with radial fingers adapted to hold the carton body in open rectangular body formation.

8. In a mechanism of the kind described, a vertical chute for piling fiat, knocked-down cartons one above the other, means for removing said fiat cartons one by one from the bottom of the chute, an endless conveyor chain having substantially horizontal top and bottom runs and being provided with spaced pockets connected to said conveyor chain, the pockets having no side Walls, each pocket consisting of a bottom wall, a first end wall which is substantially perpendicular to said bottomwall, and a second end wall which is inclined to said bottom wall and has a notch or recess, the ends of the fiat cartons deposited in the pockets projecting in front and in rear of the pocket, means for opening and squaring the fiat cartons placed in the pockets and means for inwardly bending a first and a second end flap at one end of the carton, said means for inwardly bending said end flaps comprising a revolving disc provided with peripheral projections acting on a first end flap to inwardly bend the same, and a longitudinally arranged guide means act-' ing on a second end flap to inwardly bend the same and cause it to overlie said first end flap.

9. In a mechanism of the kind described, a substantially vertical chute for piling fiat, knockeddown cartons one above the other, means for removing said fiat cartons one by one from the bottom of the chute, an endless conveyor chain having substantially horizontal top and bottom runs and being provided with spaced pockets connected to said conveyor chain, each pocket being adapted to receive one carton removed from the chute, means for opening and squaring the flat cartons placed in said pockets, means for outwardly bending end flaps of side walls at an end of the opened carton, said means comprising guide means adjacent said end of the carton, for outwardly bending the end flap of one side wall, and a disc provided with radially extending fingers adapted to outwardly bend the end flap of the other side wall.

10. In a mechanism of the kind described, a substantially vertical chute for piling flat, knocked-down cartons one above the other, means for removing said flat cartons one by one from the bottom of the chute, an endless conveyor chain having substantially horizontal, top and bottom runs and being provided with spaced pockets connected to said conveyor chain, each pocket being adapted to receive one carton removed from the chute, means for opening and squaring the flat cartons placed in said pockets, means for inwardly bending an end flap of a side Wall at one end of the opened carton and means for causing to inwardly bend an end flap of another side wall at said one end of the opened carton, means for closing the closure flap at said one end of the opened carton, said means comprising a first guide havin a planar bottom portion and. a concave-convex marginal portion, said guide being associated with a tongue parallel with the planar bottom portion of the guide, a pair of pressure rolls longitudinally spaced from "11 said guide, .a :second guide longitudinally spaced iirom said pressure rolls, and'revolving- :disc' lonegitudinally spacedijfrom saidsecond' guide vand :providedwith a' series o-f rad-ial iblades.

'11..ln a mechanism of the kind-described, a "substantially vertical chute for pilingl flat, knocked-down zcartons-onaaboveithe other, .means :for removing said :flatlc'artons one by one from the bottom of the chute, an :endless vconveyor chain having substantially horizontal .top. and

bottom runs. ;and":being TIJIOYldEd'With spaced pockets -connecte d;to*said :convteyor :chain, veach pocket being adapted "-to receiveione carton re- -moved .from the chute, means foropening and squaring the fiat cartonsplaced-in said-pockets, :means for .-inwardly bending an .end-flap-cf a side wall-at one "en'dof the opened'carton and means for causing to inwardly bend :an end flap of another side wall'at saidone'zend'of theiopened carton, means for closing-the-closure flap .at said one end of the opened carton; vsaid means comprising a first guide having aplananbottommortion and a concave-convex marginal end:prtion,

said guide being associated with a tongue parallel with the planar 'bottomgportion of the guide, the- I12 "12; a mechanism of "the kind described, a substantially vertical ghute x-for piling :flat, knocked-down cartons one above the other,

means :for removing 'said flat cartons one byone from the bottom of the chute, an endless chain sure fiapand insertitwinwardlyof a longitudinal body wall of the carton .intocclosing position.

having substantially horizontal top .and bottom runs, actuated :at a substantially constant speed and beingprovided with spaced lpockets connected to said conveyor chain, each pQcketJbeing adapted to receive :one cartonremoved from the chute, means for ;.gradual opening andlsquaring of thelflat cartons placed in said pockets, said .means comprising a .first revolving disc provided with radially arranged fingersgadapted to cause partial :opening of the iflat cartons in said pockets by striking an end flap at one end of the carten, the 'free ends of said fingers being :moved at greater longitudinal velocity than the conveyor chain, a longitudinally arranged abutment adapted tobe engaged by a top edge of the carton placedin a pocket, and a second revolving disc provided with radial fingers adapted .to hold the carton body in open rectangular body formation, the longitudinalmovement of the opened carton being faster than the longitudinalmovement of said'radial fingers'at their tips.

JOHN J. 'QU'IGLEY. PHILIP RICKLEFS.

REFERENCES CITED The following-references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 807 sunderman Dec.i:12,' 1905 1,378,579 -Bernotow -iMay 17, 1921 1,378,580 v BGIHOIZOW "May 17, 1921 1,406,165 Bechmann Feb. '14, 1922 1,935 6'13 Bronander V ,Nov.'21, 1.933 2,160,518 Reynolds May 30, 1939 

